Moon Hut Is Now Mexican

Article as it appeared in Florida Today on August 12, 2005
by Kathy Reakes

Historic restaurant moves from space to south of the border theme

The round, yellow moon sign was a landmark from the minute the doors opened on the Moon Hut
restaurant in 1958. Locals, astronauts, tourist, space workers and even
movie stars rubbed elbows with each other over cups of coffee in the
early days of the race to the moon.

Popular for its Moonburger and the space and astronaut memorabilia that filled the walls, the restaurant
was always a little seedy, and yes, a little dirty. But that didn't
bother most locals. The restaurant has changed hands over the past several
years, but one thing that always endured was the Moon Hut sign.

Well, kiss the Moon Hut goodbye and welcome La Fiesta Azteca,
a Mexican restaurant. The restaurant's new owners,
Nestor Martinez and Alice Fusillo, are a little surprised by the
amount of attachment people seem to have for the old restaurant.

Nestor Martinez, owner of the new Mexican restaurant that used
to be the Moon Hut, says that he plans to keep the astronaut and
space shuttle memorabilia up on the walls in the restaurant.